The Wisconsin women's hockey program is the winningest program in women's hockey history, now with its ninth title. They did it in a weird, unprecedented season, as the Olympics took place during the season, and four current Badger players left to play for the USA. Those ladies walked away with a gold medal, jumped back in with Wisconsin, and then helped the Badgers win the National Championship.
Those four, Ava McNaughton, Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms, and Caroline Harvey, all made history. They won a gold medal and a National Championship just 31 days apart. That's hockey dominance, and Wisconsin gets to claim them as Badgers.
After winning the national championship, four members of the Wisconsin Women's Ice Hockey team have now won Olympic gold and an NCAA championship, just 31 days apart 👏 pic.twitter.com/31dxuTNWao
— espnW (@espnW) March 23, 2026
Mark Johnson says there's only one player that can claim a better run than these four
Related: Mark Johnson called the win and the season surreal as Wisconsin claims 9th title
Head coach Mark Johnson, after the National Championship, said that "you couldn't write a better script." Even he can't claim what these four ladies can claim, as he won the 1980 gold medal for USA hockey, but didn't turn around and immediately win the National Championship. According to Johnson, there's only one person who can hold a candle to this accomplishment: Ken Morrow.
Johnson said that Ken Morrow won the 1980 gold medal with him, then went on to win four Stanley Cups. "That will never be done again, I'm sure." However, these girls did what Morrow didn't do: win a gold medal and a National Championship back-to-back.
But you can add even another level to it. These four won a National Championship last year with Wisconsin, then went and won a gold medal this year, only to turn around and win another National Championship. These four are on an insane run, and like Johnson said, you really can't write a better script.
There are only four people in the world who have a 2025 National Championship, a 2026 gold medal, and a 2026 National Championship. Or even take out the years and put those all back-to-back, and it's still the same four players. Amazing run for our Badgers.